dagblog - Comments for "2014. Karzai catches last copter outta Kabul--does he dangle from the skid or ride inside?"

Fair enough...we'll swap out

jollyroger — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 04:33:55 +0000

Fair enough...we'll swap out Alexander the Great for Dr. Watson...( Maiwand)

Yeah, but Alexander won,

Aaron Carine — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:56:24 +0000

Yeah, but Alexander won, unlike the Soviets and the Americans. He had no regrets--well, he regretted his men refusing to keep fighting, but it wasn't mutiny that stymied the modern wars in Afghanistan.

and: The Pashtun have a

jollyroger — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 23:05:26 +0000

In reply to He didn't hold it only

and: The Pashtun have a long history of uniting to face a common, external threat. They held up Alexander the Great for years — if for no other reason than pure belligerence. Something like that seems to be happening today.Nick Dupree

also: Today, U.S. and NATO

jollyroger — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 22:55:34 +0000

In reply to He didn't hold it only

also: Today, U.S. and NATO forces are not fighting "terrorists" in Afghanistan but a loose alliance of Pashtun warrior tribes whose resistance to foreign occupation is legendary. They are descendants of the same Pashtun mountain warriors who battled Alexander the Great, the Mongols, the British Empire and the Soviet Union. All these invaders were eventually defeated.Eric Margolis

In the 4th century B.C.,

jollyroger — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 22:51:00 +0000

In reply to He didn't hold it only

In the 4th century B.C., Alexander the Great fell afoul of Pashtun tribesmen in today's Malakand Agency, where he took an arrow in the leg and almost lost his life. Milt Bearden, CIA

point well taken--ill have to

jollyroger — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 20:38:30 +0000

In reply to He didn't hold it only

point well taken--ill have to do a bit more research cause the Pashtun always claim that they drove him out. 200 years probably qualifies as anyones idea of long term...

He didn't hold it only

Aaron Carine — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:50:12 +0000

In reply to He conquered, but did not

He didn't hold it only because of his premature death. And, as you say, Macedonians did hold Bactria for over two centuries.

He conquered, but did not

jollyroger — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:24:32 +0000

In reply to I don't think Alexander would

He conquered, but did not hold, the Pashtuns over the long term. The successor empire in that area produced a " marcb state" Bactria- Sogdiana which was the outer defense of the. Seleucids.

I don't think Alexander would

Aaron Carine — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 14:38:12 +0000

In reply to 2014. Karzai catches last copter outta Kabul--does he dangle from the skid or ride inside?

I don't think Alexander would warn Obama against military adventures. The Macedonian's adventure was quite successful.

Screams out for a " thought

jollyroger — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 09:13:41 +0000

In reply to New York Magazine's Daily

Screams out for a " thought balloon" dialog box over Obama...caption contest!